Drip-feed device



Nov. 11, 1952 MAREK 2,617,561

DRIP-FEED DEVICE Fil ed Dec. 26. 1950 Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE Application December 26, 1950, Serial No. 202,694 In Great Britain August 9, 1949 This invention relates to a drip-feed device for oiling machinery or for dispensing any liquid by applying it to a particular spot in drops or in the form of a thin stream.

More particularly the invention is concerned with a drip-feed device of the kind in which a drip member is slidably mounted in the outlet of a portable liquid reservoir such as a bottle or can so that in an inoperative position it is located inside the reservoir and can be extended therefrom when required to be used. With one known device of this kind the drip member is in the form of a solid rod which is slidable through an aperture in the bottle neck while with another known device the member is a tube. In both cases ingress of air into the reservoir occurs through an annular space between the drip member and a part in which it is slidably mounted and there is a tendency for this annular air space to became choked with liquid.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved drip-feed device which is constructed in such a manner that air can enter the reservoir freely and an unimpeded flow of liquid effected.

According to the present invention there is provided a drip-feed device of the kind referred to which is characterised in that the drip member comprises an elongated strip formed as a trough.

With a preferred form of the invention the trough-like drip member is slidable through an opening formed in a cork or other bung for a bottle, can or like container forming the reservoir so that liquid will run through the bung and along the trough-like strip, when the latter is extended from the bottle, so as to drip from the end of said strip. The opening in the bung is conveniently made circular in cross-section and in effect liquid will flow along the strip in the normally lower semi-circular half of the opening while air is free to pass into the bottle through the normally upper semi-circularhalf of the opening to replace the liquid dispensed from the bottle. It will be clear that with liquids of comparatively high viscosity the length of the air passage through the bung may be very short. In any event the flow along the trough can be controlled by varying the length of the bung and/or the diameter of the orifice.

To avoid transverse movement of the troughlike strip in the opening and so eliminate any risk of liquid seeping through the opening beneath the base of the trough the upper side edges of the trough are preferably formed with flanges 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-420) or wings which slide in grooves in the bung whereby the trough is positioned positively in relation to the centre line of the opening.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example. In the drawmgs:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the bottle tilted as in use and with the drip member adjusted to a position for use. I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the bottle showing the drip member pushed into the bottle in an inoperative position.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views showing the construction of the drip member, and

Figure 6 is a section, drawn to a larger scale, taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates an elongated strip preferably made of a metal such as tin plate. This strip is formed as a trough and is tightly fitted in a cylindrical hole 2 formed in a bung 3 which may be made of cork and is fitted into the neck 4 of a bottle 5.

The outer end of the strip is formed with a point 6 (see Figure 3) and the inner end of the strip is bent to form a laterally directed abutment flange 7 as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 which prevents the strip from being pulled right out of the bottle through the bung 3. As will be seen most clearly in Figure 6, the strip is of arcuate cross-section and fits tightly in the cylindrical hole 2 in the bung 3.

To avoid transverse movement of the troughlike strip I in the opening 2 and so eliminate any risk of liquid seeping through the opening 2 beneath the base of the trough, the upper side edges of the trough are formed with flanges or wings 8 which slide in grooves in the bung whereby the trough is positioned positively in relation to the centre line of the opening. The grooves for the flanges 1 may be preformed in the bung or may be cut out by said flanges when sliding the strip I through the opening 2.

When the strip l is not in use it is pushed down into the bottle 5 but a short length is left protruding as shown in Figure 2 so that it can be easily taken hold of for the purpose of pulling the strip I out to the extent that may be required for use.

The bottle 5 is equipped with a cap 9 which is formed with a tubular extension or pocket III to receive the protruding end of the strip I. It is adapted to screw down on a thread I l formed on the neck 4 of the bottle and is provided with a cork disc l2 or other suitable sealing member for making a liquid-tight joint.

In the use of the device, after the cap 33 has been detached, the strip I is pulled out to whatever extent is convenient and the bottle is then tilted asshown in Figure 1 as the point 6 of the strip isapplied to the spot where the liquid is required, It will readily be appreciated that this will cause liquid in the bottle to run out through the hole 2 in the bung and along the strip.| until it drips from the point thereof.

It will also be appreciated that-the'liquid will flow along the trough-like strip through the lower semi-circular half of the opening 2 and thatair is free to pass into the bottle through the normally upper semi-circular half of the opening to replace the liquid dispensed from the bottle.

The abutment flange. I not only prevents inadvertent, withdrawall'qf thqstrip- I, from the -bun 3 but also-serves asa means of withdrawing the bung from the bottle for refilling.

As already mentioned, the size and length of the hole 2 in conjunction with the depth and width of thestrip I can be varied to suit the viscosity of, the liquid to-be used and the shape of the point 6 can be varied. If desired, the point 6 may be dispensed with altogether, that is to 30 say, the strip may be of uniform cross section from end to end.

Although a glass bottle 5 has been illustrated, a can or any other convenient receptacle may be used instead. The cap 9 may be fastened by any known or preferred means instead of the screwthread shown at l l.

Iclaim:

A drip feed device comprising a plug-in stopper, a circular hole passing through the stopper, a drip member of;semi-circular section substantially from end to end fitting one-half of and slidable through the hole, diametrically opposite grooves in the stopper opening into the circular hole, and a flange along each edge of the semicircular section and outwardly directed from said drip member each flange fitting and slidable in n x it e row s ANTHONY JOSEPH MAREK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 246,477 Dixon Aug. 30, 1881 2,23-2;029 Juchli Feb'. 18, 1941 2,272,364 Connors Feb. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country, 7 Date 1, 23 De mar sewn-w 21,19 9 

